Hi friends,
When I was 12 years old, my aunt got a facelift. This was back in the 90s when plastic surgery was hushed and judged. A few yers later, another family member of mine had a rhinoplasty (nose job). I remember being fascinated by it all, this idea that you could mold yourself like clay. That curiosity around plastic surgery and aesthetics never really left me. It’s something I’ve found myself wanting to understand more deeply ever since. So when this week’s podcast guest, Judy Lim, began sharing her experience undergoing multiple plastic surgery procedures in Korea last year, I followed along closely. And I had so many questions she wasn’t answering online, like what was it like going abroad to have plastic surgery and were you scared? How was recovery alone in your hotel room? Were you in pain? Was it worth it?
We get into many of these questions in this week’s Friend Of A Friend episode under our medical tourism theme. And unexpectedly, we also uncover Judy’s experience traveling to Colombia for plastic surgery, something she shares for the first time during our conversation.
If you’ve ever thought about traveling for a procedure—or simply wondered why someone would—you’ll find this conversation fascinating. I found Judy’s honesty and openness incredibly refreshing.
Hope you enjoy this episode!
Amy
Where you go is only part of the story.
Watch to this week’s episode of Mirror Mirror with Amy Chang →
Mood Board: This Week Visually
#TWDT — what made me do a double take.
Emma Chamberlain x West Elm Is The Collab You Didn’t Know You Needed — I am OBSESSED — let’s just start there — with all of the pieces that Emma Chamberlain created for her full home collection with West Elm. The menagerie of cottage core meets Brooklyn hipster is full of fun eclectic pieces, like a pigeon eyeglass holder and wing backed bed with built in wooden nightstands. It’s all so unusual and beautiful. And a refreshing breath of vintage silhouettes, nostalgic prints, and whimsy. Do I need a curved bar or apple bath mat in my life— no? But am I trying to figure out where to put them in my home, yes. Read more at VOGUE…
Alix Earle’s Skincare Brand Hits $1 million In Sales In 5 minutes — Alix Earle’s skincare brand, Raele Actives, feels like a perfect reflection of her. Metallic packaging—something you usually see in aspirational, luxury brands—but paired with an accessible, mass price point that makes it feel relatable. And that’s Alix in a nutshell. She looks aspirational, but feels accessible. The brand posted big numbers out of the gate, as I predicted they would —reportedly around $5M in a single day—but the real question is what happens next. Do they have what it takes to sustain interest, launch after launch, all the way to an exit? Because it’s one thing to go viral. It’s another to build a business that can actually carry that momentum forward. I’ll be curious to see where they go from here. Hopefully, they were able to poach someone from the Rhode marketing team. Read more at Glossy…
What In The Clavicular Is Happening? — When I first read about Clavicular, Braden Peters—the viral “looksmaxxing” streamer—a few months ago in a The New York Times article, I thought this would be a two-second moment. Something that spikes and disappears like so many others. But fast forward to now, and it doesn’t feel that way. Clavicular has walked in a NYFW show. “Looksmaxxing” language—like mogging—is starting to enter the mainstream. And this idea of hyper-masculine beauty is picking up speed. I have mixed feelings about it. There’s something about it that feels… unsettling. But then I catch myself wondering…is this what women’s beauty culture would feel like if we weren’t so used to it? Read more at NYT…
Euphoria Season 3 Premiere to Screen At Coachella — The marketing team behind the Euphoria return deserves a raise because streaming the show during Coachella weekend 1—after a four-year hiatus—is a f-ing genius marketing move. As I’ve said before, the sun, dust, and port-a-potties of the desert have always kept me away. But this? A live screening of one of the most anticipated returns, under the California desert sky amongst a sea of palpitating fans…That’s almost enough to make me consider overpriced resale tickets just to be part of the moment. If you’re going, post this experience to Tiktok so those of us can experience it from afar, please and thank you. Read more at Variety…
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Are A YES — Here’s the thing, I’m not a tech girl. But filed under things making me happy this week: my new Bose headphones. I thought my AirPods were enough for long walks and flights. Turns out… not even close. The noise canceling takes everything—my favorite podcasts, Harry Styles’ album (currently on repeat)—and makes it 10x better. I still can’t believe I’m typing these words as again, tech has never been something I’ve cared much about, but wow — invest in good headphones, friends. More at Bose.com…
Beyond the mirror….
Plastic surgery is a tough conversation to have…but surprisingly it’s a lot easier for many than the conversation we’re going to have next week when we move to our next theme on “The Myth Of Aging Gracefully”. I’m really excited for it because we explore what it means to age in society, should we fight it or embrace it, and more. Stayed tuned!
Thanks for looking a little closer with me. Until next time.
Amy Chang, Host of Mirror Mirror
